Vaginal receptacle



Dec. 20, 1932. J, GODDARD 1,891,761

VAGINAL REQEPTACLE Filed Oct. 6, 1932 4% A rromvg Y3 apparent ference UNITED sTATas PA ENT" can-ca I mm 1 mam, or

man, rnonma, Assrexon. n nan-anaeromm'rom oo-conm, or. maim omo. a conromnon or o vnonur. mam Application fled October 6, 1888. Serial 10. 686,440.

This invention relates a device for femi nineh 'eneand articularl to a new and ygl gr the reczption and hyat improved means gienic disposition of the menstrual d scharge. An object of the present inventlon 1s to entrap the discharge in an effective sanitary manner so as to prevent the discharge from coming in contact with clothing or exterior portions of the genital organs or ad acent parts of the body, thus eliminating ob ectlonable odors or a clotting of the discharge.

Another object is to provide a receptacle for this purpose which may be easily d sposed in operating position and when so disposed will adjust itself for. efiicient operation and will cause neither irritation nor discomfort to the wearer. I p

Another object is to provide a receptacle of this character which will retain its proper operating position securely without the use of the usual belts or other external fastenin andappliances.

till another-object is to provide such a receptacle which is small, compact and durable so that it may be conveniently carr ed contour, and impervious material so as to be easily cleaned and sterilized.

Another important'ob ect. is to provide a receptacle for accomplishing the above results,,which receptacle may remain in operating position during and without interwith the natural discharge of urine or other excrement from the body.

Other objects and advantages will become in the following specification wherein reference is made to the drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, part -th'ereof being shown in section for clearness in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the manner of folding the receptacle for insertion into operating position.

ig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a female body showing the receptacle in operating position. 4

Referring torFig. 1, .a preferred form of the present invention is shown for purposes of illustration and comprises a rece having a body 1 open at one end as indicated use and which is of smooth 2 and closed at theopposite end. About the open end 2 of the body is an annular flange 3 whlch is formed integral with the body and is preferably flared outwardly-at an angle of 15 thereto. The body 1 may be cylindrical in form, the portion adjacent to the closed end being contracted, as illustrated, to form a rounded exterior shoulder 5. ;'The contracted end portion, indicated at 7, may likewise be substantially cylindrical, the lower end being rounded and the upper end being flared slightly to define a gradual curve between the shoulder -5 and the end portion .7, as indicated at 8. The walls of the entire receptacle are imperforate and free from abrupt shoulders or still edges. At the extreme lower end of the body is a small nib 9 for purposes later to be described.

Heretofore, devices of this acter have been made in wh hard, unyielding material, or though somewhat resilient, distortion to a high degree.

Again, as to these devices, the contour of the wall surfaces exposed to the vaginal walls is irregular, having abrupt changes forming sharp shoulders and edges and having perforations or protuberances.

While these devices are designed for like purposes and as womb supports, they are adapted to engage the cervix directly or to hold an absorbent material in direct contact therewith. All such devices are unsatisfactory in that they cause irritation of the cervix or vaginal walls, with resultant malignancy and cancer.

It is necessary, therefore, that the receptacle normally assume a position out of contact with the cervix, that all exposed surfaces of thereceptacle be very smooth,soft, pliant and free from stiff edges, shoulders, or undue bulges of any character tending to cause concentration of the pressure on the vaginal walls, and that no undue pressure for mainole or part of material which, tended to resist taining a proper operating position be retacle general charsure relieved, it will tend to assume its normal shape but, in doing so, will exert an outward pressure equal to the normal muscular resistance of the vaginal walls.

The best material meeting these requirements is a good: grade of. soft rubber. The entire receptacle may be formed of a single piece of such rubber with all parts integral.

Referrin now to Figs. 2 and 3, the manner of app ying and using the device is illustrated. The receptacle, after having been carefully cleansed and serilized, and, if desired, lubricated about the flange 3 and the upper body portion with a suitable lubricant, is creased or folded along a longitudinal fold, as illustrated in Fig. 2, by gripping the same between the fingers and thumb. By so folding the receptacle the air therein is partially expelled. While held in the folded condition it is inserted in the vagina, with the flange and open end innermost, a suflicient distance to dispose the shoulder 5 inwardly and just to the rear of the wall defining the vulva.

As stated, the receptacle is inserted while in folded condition, partially expelling air from the vagina. .Upon releasing the receptacle the walls and flange, due to their normal resiliency, tend to return to their original unfolded condition and shape, the flange snugly engaging the inner wall of the vagina and forming therewith an effective seal, the remainder of the walls of the receptacle engaging the adjacent wall of the vagina and, at the same time, creating within the vagina, inwardly from the receptacle, a reduced air pressure. Consequently, the receptacle will retain its position readily and upon slight movement of the wearer will adjust itself in a comfortable and effective position, supported by engagement of the flange, body, andthe shoulder 5 with the vaginal walls.

To insure proper fitting, the receptacle may be made in various sizes, an intermediate size being shown for purposes of illustration. In the. illustrative example, the walls are sub- I, stantially 3/64 of an inch in thickness and the external diameter of the body 1 about 1 inches, the overall length less the nib 9 being 2and inches and the other parts being in the ,proportion illustrated. With such proportions, the contracted end of the receptacle does not protrude outside of the vagina ceptacle,

but retains the position illustrated, in which position it is out of contact with clothing and interferes in no way with urination.

' When constructed and arranged in operating position, there is no relative movement betweenthe vaginal walls and the rethe latter readily yielding to conform to changes in the contour thereof. Abrasion is therefore eliminated. Again, the receptacle rests with its lower end against the inner wall surfaces of the vulva and is of such length that its upper end is' spaced v below and out of contact with the cervix.

Experience have proven that such a receptacle will retain its position during muscu ar activity of the wearer without leakage and in fact without the wearer being conscious of its presence. I

As above set forth, these desirable results are obtained without the use of any external fastenings or appliances.

Since the discharge passes quickly into the receptacle and since a minimum of air remains in the vagina in contact with the discharge clottin thereof is greatly reduced or eliminated. artial filling of the receptacle effects an even ti hter seal and an increase in the weight su cient to become noticeable serves to inform the wearer that the receptacle is filled to such a degree that is should be removed and cleansed and re-inserted, the nib 9 above described begin provided to facilitate removal at such times.-

Having thus described my invention,

I claim:

1'. A vaginal receptacle for the purposes described, comprising a cup having a soft, imperforate, impervious, resilient side wall, said cup having a portion open at one end and a portion closed at the opposite end, said closed end portion being of smaller cross sectional area throughout than the open end portion, and a smooth, external annular shoulder extending inwardly from the side wall of the larger portion and overhanging the closed end portion, and merging therewith the closed end portion being of suflicient size to lie in the vaginal entrance passage and engage the wall thereof for a material distance beyond the shoulder and being of suflicient yieldability to be distorted by normal muscular contraction of the entrance passage wall, the wall of the cup and the shoulder being sufliciently resilent to be folded by pressure of human fingers and to tend to return toward their normal unfolded condition for engaging the vaginal walls consequent upon release of said pressure, said shoulder being positioned longitudinally of the cup to lie upon the interior wall surface of the wall defining the vaginal entrance when the receptacle is positioned in the vagina with the open end in spaced relation to the cervix.

2. A vaginal receptacle for the purposes described comprising a cup composed entirely of soft, imperforate, impervious, resilient material foldable by pressure of human fingers, said cup having a hollow body portion open at one end and of substantially uniform cross sectional shape throughout its entire length, and a depending portion of smaller diameter throughout its length than thebody portion and adapted to lie in the vaginal entrance passage, said depending portion being of such yieldability'at all points of contact yieldable cylindrical with the wall of said entrance passage that it can be distorted by slight contractive pressure of said wall, an intermediate convexly curved annular portion joining said body portion and depending portion and forming a smooth, continuous exterior annular wall therewith, said wall providing in operative effect an external shoulder overhangmg said depending portion and adapted to lie upon the interior wall surface of the wall defining the vaginal entrance when the open end of the cup is in spaced relationto the cervix.

3. Avaginal receptacle for the purposes described, comprising a cup havin a soft, imperforate, impervious, resilient slde wall said cup having a portion open at one end and a portion closed at the opposite end, a soft, external annular flange about said openend, sai closed end portion being of smaller cross signature.

LESTER GODDARD.

sectional area throughout than. the open end portion, and a smooth, external, annular shoulder extending inwardly from the side wall of the larger portion and overhanging the closed end portion and merging therewith, said closed end portion having a highly portion intermediate its outer extremity and said shouldervthe wall of the cup and the shoulder being sufliciently resilient to be folded by pressure of human fingers and to tend to return toward their normal unfolded condition for engaging the vaginal walls consequent upon release of said pressure, said shoulder being positioned longitudinally of the cup to lie upon the interior wall surface of the wall defining the vaginal entrance when the receptacle is positioned in the vagina with the open end in spaced relation to the cervix.

4. A vaginal cup comprising a shell body of suflicient diameter to fit snugly against the side walls of the vagina, said body being 0 n at the upper end, a smaller shell adapte to lie within the vaginal entrance passage, the smaller shell being closed at the lower end, and of substantially uniform yieldability at all points of contact with the entrance passage wall the lower wall of the said body extending inwardly and terminating in the up r wall portion of the smaller shell and de ing an external annular overhanging shoulder adapted to lie upon the interior wall surfaces of the walls defining the va al entrance passage when the open end o t he cup is spaced below the cervix, theentire cup being composed of soft, smooth, im rforate, impervious, resilient material fo dable by pressure of human-fingers.

5. A vaginal cup comfiprising a shell body of sufiicient diameter to t snugly against the side walls of the vagina, said body being 0 n at the upper end, a smaller shell adapted to lie within the vaginal entrance passage, the smaller shell being closed at the lower end, the lower wall of the said body extending inwardly and terminating in the upper wall 

